Chennai-based start-up installs city’s first meterless solar rooftop system
SolarTown Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd., a Chennai start-up, has installed a 41 KW net-metered solar pv rooftop system at the Bombay Presidency Radio Club. Bombay Presidency Radio Club becomes the first commercial establishment in Mumbai to have a net-metered solar PV system installed on its building. Through the arrangement, Radio Club will be able to sell its excess electricity back to the grid under Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and reduce its utility bill.
The Radio Club is expected to save Rs. 8,50,000 a year from this solar power system. The Radio Club entered into a no upfront cost, 25-year lease agreement with SolarTown at a rate that is 35 to 40 per cent lower than their utility tariff.The installed system delivers clean power at a fixed cost during the lease period and includes maintenance services. The rooftop system will offset 20 per cent of the Radio Club’s energy consumption from the grid and more than 1,189 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the lifetime of the solar installation, according to the firms.
SolarTown founder Vikram Dileepan said the company was the first commercial establishment to commission a net-metered solar rooftop installation in Mumbai. “We were tired of paying high utility bills but were not sure how to cut costs without having to invest a lot of money,” said Rajesh Mehrotra, a member of the managing committee at the Radio Club. “This installation gives us the triple benefit of saving on our operating expenses without any capital investment while reducing our carbon footprint,” Mr. Mehrotra added.
Source: Thehindu
